Literally, the term "Buddha" means "enlightened
one." According to Buddhist beliefs, however, there have been
innumerable Buddhas over the eons. This section will look primarily at
Sakyamuni, the historical founder of Buddhism. Sakyamuni was born around
500 BC in north India. As a young man, unsatisfied with his life of
comfort and troubled by the suffering he saw around him, he left home to
pursue spiritual goals. After trying a life of extreme asceticism, he
found enlightenment while meditating under a tree. For the next forty-five years,
he traveled through north India, preaching, attracting followers, and refuting adversaries.

By the time Buddhism reached China, images of the Buddha played a major
role in devotional practices. As you will see, the Buddha is usually depicted as austere in stature,
pose, and dress. Otherworldly features are highlighted while human
characteristics are de-emphasized. Mudras, or gestures performed with the hand,
convey
various actions. Here is a diagram of some of the more common mudras.

In addition to the mudras, the Buddha is often depicted with other
common conventions such as the lotus blossom, elongated ears, usnisa (the
protrusion on the top of the head), and the urna (the raised dot in the
middle of the forehead). These features refer to the life story of the
historical Buddha. For example, the long earlobes remind one of the heavy ear ornaments
the Buddha would have worn while still living in the palace.

To the right is a Sixteen Kingdoms period (4th century)
gilded bronze Buddha statue.

What action does this mudra convey?

Early examples of Buddhist sculpture in China showed a greater Central
Asian influence.